Automobile cleaning service unit



March 1,1960 D. F. HOLLANDER 2,925,377

' AUTOMOBILE CLEANING SERVICE UNIT Filed Nov. 16, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

.DW/GHT F Ho HNDEE March 1, 1960 D. F. HOLLANDER AUTOMOBILE CLEANING SERVICE UNIT 3 Sheets-Sfieet 2 i-"iled Nov. 16. 1954 INVENTOR. ,Dwmur E Hana/vase BY March 1, 1960 D. F. HOLLANDER 2,926,377

AUTOMOBILE CLEANING SERVICE UNIT Filed Nov. 16. 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 mmvron. .Drweur E HOLLH/VOEE United t s Patent AUTOMOBILE CLEANING SERVICE UNIT Dwight F. Hollander, ome o, Ill. Application November 16, 1954, Serial No. 469,235 1 Claim. c1. 15-261) My invention relatestoa cleaning service unit.

My invention-relates more particularly to a service 2,926,31 Patented M t-.1, 1960 2 being broken away in part to more clearly show said mechanism; and

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken generally on line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment of the invention which I have chosen to illustrate and describe, I have shown a post 10 which may be one of the usual light posts at both ends of a gasoline pump island, the post providing a support for the service unit 12 which is attached thereto by suitable U-bolts-or in any other desirable manner.

The service unit 12 may generally comprise an upright 4 frame 14 having left and right side frame members 16 unit of the type-described which is adapted for use at automobile service stations, in public garages or repair shops and other places where automobiles are present and where it is usually necessary to service the same, such as by repairs or the replacement of gasoline, oil or other supply requirements thereof.

At the usual automobile service station, when a driver pulls up to the gasoline tanks and buys some gasoline, it is customary to suggest that his oil supply be examined, his battery checked, and various other services either offered or performed. Frequently, while the gasoline is being pumped into his tank, the attendant can be engaged in cleaning off his windows, visors, and otherwise busying himself in" cleaning the car. This may also consist of using a whisk broom to clean out the inside of the car if necessary.

In cleaning Windshields, headlight lens, and other portions of the front of the automobile which have been subjected to extensive night driving so as to collect smeared insects other sediment on the same, it is necessary to use .a cloth or spronge saturated with a strong chemical solution or detergent. The gas station attendant, to avoid injury to his hands, usually washes them in soapy water after each use of the cloth or sponge. Under present arrangements at service stations, repair shops and other similar places, the closest location of means for this purpose is usually the wash room, and as a result, after each use of the strong detergent or chemical solution, the attendant must necessarily spend time to walk to the washroom, wash his hands and come back.

To overcome the -objections to the above ways of cleaning cars, I have devised a cleaning service unit which may be attached to one of the posts at the gasoline pumps of the station.

The automobile cleaning service unit which I cum template may consist of a frame including a horizontal shelf, which in one embodiment thereof is adapted to be attached to one of the posts adjacent the gasoline pumps. I contemplate the pro-vision below the horizontal shelf of a support rod from which a pair of pails or other containers may be suspended, one to contain soap water for ordinary washing of hands, and the other to contain the chemical preparation or detergent solution which is required for cleaning the Windshields and other windows.

For a more comprehensive understanding of the invention and the attendant advantages thereof, reference is made to the following description and the accompanydrawings which illustrate the invention, and upon which Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of one embodiment of the unit as applied to a post or other upright;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front perspective view showing the mechanism for squeezing the detergent out of the cleaning sponge that is used on the windshield and other glass parts of the automobile, the detergent holding pail and 18, a cross-bar 20 at the top, and suitable cross-braces 22 positioned as desired depending upon the height of the same. A plurality of shelves 24, 26 and 28 may be fastened to the front of the frame 14 to support cans of oil or other supplies on sale at the station. A hook 30 may be provided on the side frame member 18 to support a whisk broom W, and suitable map holding containers 32 may be attached to the left side frame member 16.

. The lower ends of the upright side frame members 16 and 18 may .be bolted or otherwise fastened to an angle member 34 which has a horizontal plate 36 secured to the back of the same. A pair of clip members 38 and 40 attached to the front of angle member shelf 34 form a receptacle for a razor blade holder 42 which is available for use in scraping off ice or sediment which has accumulated on the windshield or windows of the car.

Below the shelf 34 I provide transverse angles 44, 45 and 46, the angles having suitable openings to support a rod 48. A pair of pails 50 and 52 may be suspended from the rod 48, the pail 50 being preferably filled with soapy water for hand washing purposes. A clip member 54 may be provided at the end of rod 48 for suspending a towel T. The pail 52, as previously stated, is preferably filled with a strong liquid chemical or detergent for use in cleaning the windshield and windows of a car.

In order to eliminate as much as possible the dipping of an attendants hands into this strong detergent solution, I provide a sponge S which, when not in use, may rest in the solution on a platform 56.

The platform 56 is mounted upon a pair of strap members 57 therebelow which extend back and connect with a hinge pin 58 carried by a bracket 60 which is bolted to the angle member 34 by means of bolt members 62, and extends down and has an angular portion 64 to which a perforated pad 66 is attached. A link 68 connects the strap members 57 by means of a pin 70 with an operating lever 72 connected to the upper end of the same by a pin member 74. The lever 72 is mounted upon a pin 76 carried by a bracket 78 secured to the upper side of the angle 34.

With this construction, when it is desired to squeeze out the sponge S after it has been used for washing car windows, the dirty sponge is placed upon the platform 56 submerged in the detergent. As can be seen in the drawings, Figs. 2 and 3, the angular portion 64 of the bracket is spaced above and parallel to a radius of the hinge pin 58, and a perforated pad is attached to the lower face of the same so that when the hinged perforated platform 56 is raised in an are about said pivot pin, its upper face will be parallel to the lower face of the perforated pad' 66. By pushing down on handle 72, the

74 on the cross-member 34 to receive an abrasive member such as a corncob, for use in loosening bugs and other sediment which may collect on the windshield.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have provided a highly practical automobile cleaning service unit which iscapable of use both at gasoline filling pumps and in garagesv or other places where automobiles are present for; the purpose of doing the necessary cleaning required to keep the same in proper operating condition,

It can also be seen that with the construction provided the attendants will not only save time in giving theau tomobile the attention necessary, but will also by use of the sponge-handling equipment, be able to use strong detergents without harm to their hands.

I contemplate that changes and modifications may be made in the exact details shown and I do not wish to be limited in any particular except as defined in the following claim:

I claim:

A cleaning service unit comprising a frame for attachment to a post, a horizontally disposed shelf connected to the lower end of said frame, supports below said shelf, a horizontal rod fastened between said supports, a pail suspended fro-m said rod and having a spongesqueezing unit therein, said unit including a bracket attached to 4 7 sa d she f and e en n dra n int d pail, a hinge rain at the lower end of said bracket, a perforated platform hinged at its back end on said pin, a link pivotally connected at its lower end to the front end of said platform, a support extending above said shelf, a pivot pin therein, an operating arm hinged on said pivot pin and having one end pivotally connected to the upper end of said link, said bracket having an angular portion above and spaced vfrom nd para l. to a. rad us. f aid h n e. pin a a perforated pad attached to the lower face thereof whereby when said hinged perforated platform is raised in an b sa d p ra n a m ts pp fac ll. be pa al to the lower face of said perforated pad,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

